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Safety Features in Houston Cars

In 2017, six percent of vehicles have lane departure warning systems, and 11 percent of vehicles sold have blind spot alert systems as standard features. However, after a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), auto manufacturers will want to consider making lane departure and blind spot alert systems standard in all vehicles. Additionally, manufacturers might feel pressure from insurance carriers to roll out these technologies to all cars because the systems could reduce risks and claims.

Recently, the IIHS conducted a study, and its researchers found that when drivers operated vehicles with lane-departure warning systems and blind spot alert systems, side-swipe, head-on, and single vehicle accidents got reduced by 11 percent. Furthermore, injuries were reduced by 21 percent for the same types of accidents.

The IIHS findings are significant because they show that technologies are available to reduce injuries and deaths from certain accidents where lane-departure or blind spots were factors.

In the same way that a driver must maintain their vehicle, and they should operate their vehicle safely, an auto manufacturer should make injury preventing and life-saving technologies available where it’s reasonable to do so. Car accident laws impart a duty on auto manufacturers to make and sell safe vehicles, and the cost of the technology gets weighed against the benefit.

If you get injured in a car crash where you believe the responsible driver left their lane or didn’t see you, you should contact a Houston, personal injury attorney. John K. Zaid & Associates, a Houston personal injury attorney is in the best position to evaluate your claim, and a Houston injury attorney can determine if you have a case against a driver or auto manufacturer. A Houston injury attorney has the experience to launch an effective discovery campaign against a responsible driver to determine if a lane departure or blind spot alert system was available or disabled on a car.